Rail-joint.



I'. STBINBRENNER dz C. SLEMENDA.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1913.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

INVENTO @Q5/emenda 'FRED STEINBRENNER AND CHARLES SLEMENDA,

T iQ.

0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

insaoae.

Speciioation of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 5, 1913.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913. Serial No. 783,200.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRED STEINBRENNEI: and CHARLES SLEMENDm citizens of the United States of America, residing at Pitts burgh, in the county of Allegheny and Stat( of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rail joints, especially designed for connecting the confront ing or abutting ends of rails used in connection with street railways.

The primary object of our invention is tf provide novel splice bars that form a chair for safely supporting the confronting or abutting ends of rails, whereby the rails cannot become vertically or laterally displaced.

A further object of our invention is to provide a simple and durable and ineXpensive rail oint that can be easily and quickly installed, the joint having novel braces that afford suiicient bearing for the rail joint. upon ties or other supports in order to withstand the great weight of rolling stock.

le attain the above and other objects by a mechanical construction, that will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein :`Figure l is a side elevation of the rail joint, Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of splice bars constituting the joint, and Fig. i is a cross sectional view of the rail joint.

A rail joint in accordance with this invention comprises a tie plate l and formed integral with said tie plate is a longitudinal outer splice bar The splice bar 2, adjacent to the ends thereof, is provided with braces 3 and the outer ends of said braces have openings a for spikes or other fastening means employed for securing the rail joint to ties or other supports.

The splice bar 2 and the braces 3 are adapted to brace and hold the outer sides of rails 5 .arranged upon the tie plate l and the upper edge of the splice bar 2 engages under the threads 6 of said rails.

The edge of the tie plate l has an offset portion 7 provided with an opening S, the purpose of which will presently appear.

The inner sides of the rails 5 are held and braced by an inner splice bar 9 having lateral flanges l0 and ll connected by braces l2 similar to the braces 3. The lateral ange l0 extends under the tread flanges 13 of the rails 5 and the lateral flange ll rests upon the inner base flanges of the rails 5, also upon the offset. portion of the tie plate l. The iiange ll, intermediate the ends thereof, has a notch 14 adapted to register with the jopening 8 and a wedge or key l5 extends through said notch into the opening 8, whereby the splice bar 9 can be locked relatively to the splice bar 2. A screw 16 or other fastening means can extend through the key l5 into an opening 17 provided therefor in the wall of the notch 14C.

It is thought that the utility and the manner of assembling the rail joint will be apparent wit-hout further description and while in the drawing there is illustrated a. preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understoood that the structural elements are susceptible of such variations and modiiications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

hat we claim is In a rail oint, the combination with street rails, of a tie plate adapted to support the base fianges of said rails. an outer splice bar formed integral with said plate for bracing the outer sides and treads of said rails, braces carried by said outer splice bar adjacent to the ends thereof and affording means for securing said tie plate to ties, an inner splice bar engaging the inner sides of s aid rails, lateral flanges carried by said inner splice bar with one of said ianges bracing the treadtlanges of said rails, braces connecting said iianges adjacent to the ends of said inner splice bar, an oiiset portion carried by said tie plate, a rey adapted to ensaid inner splice bar and. entend through the offset portion of said tie plate, andmeans engaging in said inner splice bar for retaining said key in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof we atlix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED STEINBRENNER. CHARLES SLEMENDA. Witnesses MAX H. SnoLovITz, KATHERINE EvRn'rT.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

